Chapter 76
The mosquito and fly eradication campaign this time was initiated by Lin City, covering all counties, towns, and communes under its jurisdiction.
Individual households, government offices, restaurants and shops, hospitals and schools, and even streets were all within the scope of coverage, with all local residents mobilized.
However, beyond that, there were numerous water channels, gutters, bridge culverts, and unrepaired wartime ruins; all damp, dirty, and garbage-filled places were breeding grounds for mosquitoes and insects.
If these places were not covered simultaneously, it would lose its significance.
But to achieve full coverage, a massive amount of manpower would inevitably be needed for weeding, dredging, and applying pesticides; the workload was immense.
The local government did not have enough manpower to cover such a large area.
So what could be done?
Coincidentally, right here locally, there was one place with abundant human resources. Yes, that’s right, it was the Military Unit.
The Military Unit was never short of people. They were all young, able-bodied men, all strong laborers.
This matter was coordinated by the government, with the Military Unit providing support.
After all, the Military Unit was the people’s army, and the soldiers were the people’s own sons.
Every year during the “double rush” (harvesting and planting season), in case of abnormal weather, the Military Unit would send large numbers of personnel to the surrounding villages to assist with farming.
In war, they could protect the country.
In peace, they could assist the villages.
This was the people’s army, the people’s own sons.
This time, everyone came to borrow people, and they were going everywhere. Yan Lei seized the opportunity to snatch Xiahekou Town.
Everyone knew that his wife had recently gone to work at the Town Committee Broadcasting Station, and during weekend breaks, they had all heard Qiao Wei’s clear and standard Mandarin broadcasts over the loudspeaker.
Everyone teased Yan Lei for using public office for private gain, saying he must be taking the opportunity to visit his wife at her workplace.
They didn’t know that Yan Lei wasn’t just there to see his wife.
Yan Lei also wanted the people at his wife’s workplace to see him.
When Yan Lei shook hands with Secretary Gao, he could feel the strength in the other man’s grip.
“Actually, we have met,” Yan Lei said with a smile. “Two years ago, there was a coordination meeting in the city. I went with Division Commander Pan and saw you speak at that time. Our division commander and I could tell at a glance that you must have been a soldier. Later, when I went out for a smoke, I asked around and found out you were from the old 71st Division. You were already in battle before I even enlisted; you are a true veteran revolutionary.”
Having been a soldier and having been on the battlefield was a lifelong honor. If it hadn’t been for an injury that forced him to transfer to civilian work, Secretary Gao wouldn’t have left the Military Unit so early, leaving behind regrets.
Hearing someone mention his past, he felt immense emotion, both nostalgic and wistful. He sighed, “I can’t compare to you, a combat hero. I’ve heard of your deeds but have never met you in person. To think we met so long ago—what fate!”
Letting go of his hand, he welcomed these comrades from the Military Unit into the conference room.
Present at the meeting were the Town Committee Secretary, the Town Mayor, the Deputy Mayors, and the section chiefs of various departments. Section Chief Xie of the Propaganda Section was also in attendance.
On the Military Unit side, Yan Lei was in the lead.
The Military Unit was still organized under the three-three system. As the Regimental Commander, he had three battalions under him, and all three battalion commanders had come along. There were also a few company commanders and two medical orderlies.
So many people packed the Town Committee’s small conference room to capacity.
After taking their seats, Secretary Gao called out to someone, “Don’t use this; go get me the tea leaves on the bookshelf in my office.”
Yan Lei sat in the seat of honor for guests. He raised a hand and smiled, “No need to be polite with me; I’m not an outsider.”
What did he mean by “not an outsider”? This statement left everyone present slightly confused.
Under everyone’s gaze, this young, promising, and handsome Regimental Commander Yan smiled and said, “My wife works at the Town Committee, so I am not an outsider to everyone here.”
Secretary Gao was pleasantly surprised and said, “Look at me, I didn’t even know. Then you really aren’t an outsider. Which section does she work in?”
Yan Lei said, “She is a broadcaster at the Broadcasting Station.”
Eh?
With that single sentence, the people of the Town Committee were plunged into confusion.
Broadcaster… who?
There must be four or five “broadcasters” on the roster of the Broadcasting Station, and there were indeed several military dependents.
First, rule out that Qiao Wei.
Then, then… ah, then? Who could be Regimental Commander Yan’s wife?
No one came to mind.
Secretary Gao, however, did not rule out Qiao Wei. After all, no one would dare bring such rumors to this strict top leader, so he had never heard of them.
But in fact, when Yan Lei said his wife was a broadcaster, a figure flashed through Secretary Gao’s mind—that young female comrade was truly excellent; her Mandarin was very standard, her manner of speaking was forthright, and her demeanor was graceful. The key was that for such a beautiful young female comrade, she had such a hardworking and plain style.
It was moving.
She was truly a match for the handsome and capable young officer before him.
Although these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, as the top leader, Secretary Gao certainly couldn’t speak carelessly; if he were wrong, it would be a joke. He looked directly at Section Chief Xie, asking with his eyes: Who is it?
Section Chief Xie looked bewildered.
He certainly knew who the staff at the Broadcasting Station were, but after ruling out Qiao Wei, he simply couldn’t think of anyone who could be Regimental Commander Yan’s wife.
None of them… were a match.
Yan Lei intentionally paused for a few seconds, letting everyone’s confusion focus and turn toward him.
Section Chief Xie really couldn’t figure it out and asked slightly awkwardly, “Who, who is it?”
Yan Lei smiled and tapped his knuckles on the long table: “Qiao Wei.”
“My wife’s name is Qiao Wei. She only started working at the Broadcasting Station this month; she is a broadcaster. By the way, she speaks Mandarin quite well. Everyone should have heard it.”
“Everyone might have also seen my child. He’s about this tall and almost four years old. His name is Yan Xiang.”
“It really is Comrade Qiao,” Secretary Gao said happily. “I guessed it was Comrade Qiao. Comrade Qiao is very good here; her morale is high, her work performance is excellent, and she is a very good comrade.”
These two young comrades—one beautiful and outstanding, the other handsome and promising, and both young—what a match they were.
However, unlike Secretary Gao’s high spirits, a strange silence fell over the conference room, and the atmosphere became very subtle.
Everyone looked at Section Chief Xie.
Section Chief Xie, entrusted with the mission by everyone’s eyes—and also to satisfy his own curiosity—sought confirmation from Yan Lei: “Qiao Wei is Regimental Commander Yan’s wife?”
Yan Lei asked, “You are…?”
“My surname is Xie, and I am the Section Chief of the Propaganda Section.”
“Section Chief Xie, Qiao Wei often mentions you.” Yan Lei laughed.
“Since she started working, she has received a lot of help from you. As her husband, I am very grateful.”
Yan Lei raised his hand, folded his thumb, and extended four fingers: “She is four years younger than me and still young. You are her leader, so please give her more guidance.”
Look clearly, only four years difference.
Yan Lei was also a leader, but he was different from leaders who sat in offices for a long time with a jar of tea and a newspaper.
If Section Chief Xie and the others were civil officials, then Yan Lei was a military general.
Military generals have their own style; there was a fierce aura in his official authority. Even though his eyes were smiling and his words were polite, his presence covered the conference table, and only Secretary Gao was able to withstand it.
“Let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s get down to business.” Yan Lei took out his red notebook, opened it, and brought the topic back. “The 1,500 officers and soldiers of the 17th Regiment are on standby. How large an area is to be handed over to us? How much pesticide powder has been distributed by the county? Is it enough?”
“Will the tools be provided by the Town Committee or prepared by the Military Unit ourselves?”
“How will meals be arranged?”
The meeting didn’t end until 10:30.
The specific work arrangements were actually not the most important content. What kind of work hadn’t the Military Unit done? They could cut wheat, transplant rice seedlings, build houses, and repair bridges. A mere mosquito eradication campaign was nothing; the Military Unit was not short of manpower, nor were they lacking in organizational and scheduling capabilities.
Nothing could stump them.
But although the Military Unit was providing support, they couldn’t let the local government shift costs onto them; they had to argue for many details.
Labor, they could provide. But they couldn’t let the local government catch them and fleece them.
When everything was settled, the people from the Town Committee felt quite exhausted.
Usually, meetings left them drowsy.
This meeting, however, made them feel that if they closed their eyes, the row of green uniforms opposite them would be ready to draw bows and shoot arrows.
Tense.
Tired.
“The pesticide powder will be transferred today.”
“Our trucks are right at the entrance.”
“Section Chief Wang, how are things on your side?”
“The pesticide powder has already been moved to the entrance, just waiting for the PLA comrades to load the trucks.”
Yan Lei said to his three battalion commanders: “You take the pesticide powder back; I won’t be going back with the trucks.”
The battalion commanders laughed: “Give our regards.”
Yan Lei was too young, and the battalion commanders were all older than him, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to call her “Sister-in-law.”
But one rank higher crushes the lower; Yan Lei had a higher rank and was the leader, and they couldn’t call the leader’s wife “younger sister-in-law” either.
They all omitted the subject; as long as the words conveyed the meaning, it was fine.
The battalion commanders, along with the company commanders and medical orderlies, followed the Town Committee staff to load the trucks and would head back directly later.
Secretary Gao’s aura was very compatible with Yan Lei’s, and he smiled: “Come, I’ll take you to the broadcasting room.”
Yan Lei, however, said: “No rush, it’s not off-duty time yet. Let her work.”
He said: “I would actually like to tour the Town Committee. You go ahead with your work; I’ll walk around myself.”
When a guest says “you go ahead and I’ll walk around myself,” these are just polite words. How could the host really go off to work?
If Yan Lei had come in a private capacity, that would be his own business, and it would be fine.
But today he came in an official capacity, and a regimental-level cadre must have the reception standards of a regimental-level cadre.
Especially since Secretary Gao and Yan Lei, despite the significant age difference, got along well, he waved his hand: “Let’s go, I’ll accompany you on a tour.”
With the top leader bringing a guest in green military uniform for a tour, no matter which section they went to, the staff had to quickly stand up to welcome them.
The top leader introduced: “This is Regimental Commander Yan, who has come to support our town this time.”
Of course, he had to add: “Regimental Commander Yan’s wife is Qiao Wei from the Broadcasting Station.”
Regimental Commander Yan smiled politely: “You all carry on, don’t let this delay your work.”
Regimental Commander Yan was tall and upright, his shoulders and chest filling out his military uniform.
The brim of his cap pressed over long eyebrows, revealing a pair of bright, sharp eyes, and his jawline was clearly defined.
Every gesture carried the same official authority as the Secretary, full of a sense of oppression.
The young girls in the section had their hearts skip a beat at the first glance, but just as they were fluttering, the Secretary said this was that Qiao Wei’s husband?
Eh? Eh?
Little Yan Xiang’s dad?
…You don’t say, looking at it this way, Yan Xiang’s eyebrows, eyes, and lips were really carved from the same mold as the Regimental Commander Yan before them.
Everyone had always thought that Yan Xiang was so cute because his mother was beautiful.
It turned out his father’s looks were not inferior either.
The Town Committee’s top leader personally took Yan Lei to sweep through every section before finally arriving at the Broadcasting Station.
Station Chief Lu quickly stood up: “Secretary, do you have any instructions?”
“Nothing. Where is Comrade Qiao Wei?”
Taking a glance, Comrade Qiao happened not to be in the office.
Yan Lei’s pleasant surprise fell through, and just as he was disappointed, someone suddenly made an “Eh” sound, followed by a familiar little milky voice shouting: “Dad!”
Yan Lei turned around; it turned out Qiao Wei had taken Yan Xiang to visit the telephone room, and just as she came out, she saw the familiar green military uniform and that tall back.
Yan Xiang ran over. Yan Lei bent down, scooped him up, swung him high, and then hugged him to his chest: “Didn’t expect this, did you?”
Yan Xiang asked: “Dad, why are you here?”
Qiao Wei also walked over quickly: “Why didn’t you give a heads-up when you came?”
A woman who wouldn’t even defend her own man didn’t deserve to know in advance.
Hmph.
Regimental Commander Yan said indifferently: “I came for official business. Nothing worth mentioning.”
